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Lawmakers consider bill to ban hand-held cellphone use while driving

A bill to outlaw the use of hand-held cellphones while driving drew little opposition at a legislative hearing.

Biddeford Democratic Rep. Paulette Beaudoin's bill would impose a $50 fine for the first offense and $250 for repeat offenses.

But the bill, which was reviewed Wednesday by the Transportation Committee, also includes a number of exemptions, including police and corrections officers, firefighters and rescue workers, doctors and transportation workers.Some critics say the bill has too many exemptions.

Others say people would ignore the law and it wouldn't make a difference.A similar proposal last session was rejected.

The committee was told that 10 other states ban cellphone use by drivers.

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